Note to readers: The Poll Dance and Hot Button Top 10 are taking next Sunday off for the long holiday weekend. See you back here with a new edition of each on July 13!
Pat Riley since joining the Miami Heat in 1995, first as head coach and later as club president, has drafted Dwayne Wade, promoted Erik Spoelstra, signed LeBron James, and overseen three NBA championships — among other successes and accomplishments that over 30 years have made him a towering figure in South Florida sports history.
Advertisement
But he is not above criticism.
Now 80, Riley’s Heat have not won it all since 2013, and the misses have outnumbered the hits lately in the whale-hunting category, most recently going after but failing to close a trade for Kevin Durant.
I would hope Riley might still have the broad faith and support of most Heat fans. But you also see and hear lots of game-has-passed-him-by rhetoric on social media.
So you be the judge, right here. Take our latest Poll Dance and vote for which option best reflects how you feel about Riley today.
Vote as many times as you’d like or until your fingers ache.
GREG COTE POLL DANCE: ON PAT RILEY:
Previous Poll Dance verdict: It’s Bob in close vote for Panthers playoff MVP: We asked, “Who was the MVP of the Florida Panthers’ postseason championship run?” With 10 on the ballot including two non-players and a big response, you said: Sergei Bobrovsky 25%; Sam Bennett 23%, Brad Marchand 22%, Aleksander Barkov 11%; GM Bill Zito 10%; and coach Paul Maurice 6%. Note: Gustav Forsling, Sam Reinhart and Matthew Tkachuk split remaining 3%. Carter Verhaeghe received no votes.